Greeting card package



Aug. 6, 1963 wv D. WALLACE 3,100,047

GREETING CARD PACKAGE Filed June 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 54 44 NIVEA/TOR:

WAR/een D. WAL/ msI H15 n TTaENEY Aug'. 6, 1963 W. D. WALLACE GREETING CARD PACKAGE Filed June 8, 1962 CONTENTS: l GREETIN CERD l MAIL/N6 NVE/.olaf

so 215 Z 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fly-ff. 6

WARREN D. WALLACE,

United States Patent C) 3,100,047 GREETING CARD PACKAGE Warren D. Wallace, Webster Groves, Mo. (7987 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis 19, Mo.) Filed .lune 8, 1962, Ser. No. 201,121 2 Claims. (ci. 20a-63) In general, the present invention relates to means for protecting an yarticle of merchandise from the damage that may be iniicted thereupon in consequence of handlings by prospective customers.

More particularly, this invention contemplates a novel packaging larrangement adapted to preserve the pristine appearance of a folded greeting card and the mailing envelope therefor until their ultimate use by a purchaser.

To this end, the present invention provides a transparent plastic film covering for enclosing both the greeting card and the mailing envelope therefore, together with a disposable card whereon the message or verse that appears on the inside of the folded card is visibly displayed. In addition, the disposable card has stamped or otherwise imprinted thereon the selling price of the greeting card and its mailing envelope, 'and a recitation of the contents of the package.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide a greeting card or the like and a mailing envelope therefor, sealed in -a transparent plastic ilm casing that protects them from any damage that could result thereto during the handling and inspection thereof preliminary to a sale.

The packaging method and the ultimate packages that would result in consequence thereof, are illustrated on two sheets of drawings that accompany this specification, and various features and advantages inherent in the invention will be more comprehensively explained in the course of the detailed description that follows with reference to said drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a plan view `of an exemplary greeting card of the French-fold type, the vface panel thereof being particularly illustrated;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the FIGURE l greeting card in open position, the inside panels thereof being particularly illustrated;

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of the FIGURE l greeting card, the back panel thereof being particularly illustrated;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a conventional unsealed envelope adapted to have lthe FIGURE 1 greeting card inserted -thereinto for mailing;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a disposable information card included in the final package arrangement, as will appear;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view `of la rectangular sheet of transparent plastic film, with the greeting card properly disposed thereon in accordance with the concept of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 6, w-ith the FIGURE 4 mailing envelope superimposed on the greeting card, and the FIGURE 5 ca-rd superimposed on the envelope in accordance with the concept of this invention, said last named card being however only fragmentarily shown;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the complete package;

FIGURE 9 is a greatly enlarged sectional View taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE S, the central portion of the v-iew being broken laway because of drawing space limitations;

-FIGURE l() is a plan View of a hexagonal sheet of transparent plastic lm having a greeting card, a mailing envelope therefor, and a disposable information card successively ksuperimposed thereon, the View being similar to FIGURE 7;

ICC

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a complete package incorporating the elements of FIGURE 10, the view being similar to FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of a rectangular single fold sheet of transparent plast-ic lm;

FIGURE 13 is `an edge view thereof;

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of said sheet illustrating the contiguous upper marginal edges thereof as having been sealed; and

FIGURE 15 is a plan view of a package arrangement, completed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, yby the employment of the FIGURE 12 sheet of iilm.

The greeting card and envelope offered for sale as an article o-f merchandise would be displayed in a package embodying the concepts of the present invention, an exemplary package ybeing designated as a wihole by the numeral 16, land being illustrated in FIGURES 8 Land 9. Included in the package 16 are a greeting card generally designated 17, a conventional unsealed envelope 18 for mailing said greeting card, a disposable information card 19, and a sheet of transparent plastic material that envelo-pes the aforesaid three components, and is designated in its entirety by the numeral 20.

With tattention directed particularly to FIGURES l, Z and 3, the exemplary greeting card 17 illustrated is known as the French-fold type, being comprised of a single sheet first folded upon itself in one direction, then folded upon itself -in a direction normal to said rst direction, as is well understood. It will of course be under- -stood that the present invention also contemplates its application to the single fold type of greeting card, that is -likewise comprised of a single sheet, but is folded upon itself in one direction only.

Although the type of greeting card 17 illustrated is well known, certain portions thereof will be identified by reference numerals in yorder to clarify the description to 'follow hereinafter. To this end, the front or face panel of the card 17 is designated 22, the back panel is designated 24, the main fold line is designated 26, and an inside or message panel is designated 2.8i.

The mailing envelope 18 shown per se in FIGURE 4 is conventional, and it is not deemed necessary to described the same in detail, it being of course understood that said envelope is so dimensioned that the greeting card 17 may -be inserted thereinto easily prior to sealing the closure flap '29.

The information card '19 appearing in FIGURE 5 is of prime importance. Preferably but not necessarily, the card 19 would correspond dimensionwise with the greeting card 17 and thus with the message panel Z8 thereof.

v The information card 19 serves no purpose after a sale of the actual greeting card has been consummated, so that it would then be discarded.

Prior to a sale however, the card 19 provides for the prospective purchaser all of the data and information that said purchaser could ascertain from an inspection land manipulation of the greeting card 17 per se, followed by inquiries directed to a sales person.

In other words, as generally indicated by the numeral 30, the purchaser is advised that the message or verse generally designated 32 that is exhibited on the information card, is an exact reproduction or facsimile of the verse appearing on the inside message panel 2S of the greeting card 17.

Additionally, the disposable information card `19 discloses on its face, as indicated at 34, the selling price of the greeting card and the mailing envelope therefor. Furthermore, a recitation of what the package 16 contains is set forth on the lower portion of the disposable card 19 as indicated at 36.

The exemplary transparent plastic lm sheet 20 is of rectangular configuration as shown rin FIGURES 6 and 7. The size of such a sheet would obviously be predicated on the size of the greeting card 17 and its mailing envelope 1S, the perimeter of the sheet being determined accordingly. It will of course be appreciated that once a dimensional sheet 20 of lm has been determined for a particularly dimensioned greeting card 17, any number of similarly dimensioned cards may each be enveloped by such a sheet of film.

With attention directed at this point to FIGURE 7, nu merals 38, 40, 42 and 44 designate imaginary fold lines, that so to speak define a rectangular central body portion 46 of the film sheet 20, and four triangular flap segments 48, 50, 52 and 54 integral therewith. It will be understood that actually said fold lines are nonexistent, but have been suggested primarily so that they may be identified with respect to the ultimate greeting card package 16 depicted .in FIGURE 8.

The method or procedure involved in producing a sealed package arrangement such .as that designated 16 in FIGURE 8, should be evident. The first step of course would comprise the provision of a rectangular sheet 20 of a determined size that would be predicated on the size of the greeting card 17 and its mailing envelope 18.

With the greeting card 17, the envelope 1S, and the information card 19 superimposed on the sheet of film Ztl as illustrated in FIGURE 7, the flap segments 48 yand 54 would be folded over, along the `imaginary lines 38 and 44 respectively, to overlie the card 19. Next the flap segment 52 would be folded over along the imaginary line 4t2, to overlie the card 19, whereupon the contiguous edges of the said segment and the flap segments 48 and S4 would be secured together, as suggested by .the stippling S6 appearing in FIGURE 8, and as further suggested in FIG- URE 9. Thereupon, the flap segment 50 would be folded over along the imaginary line 40, with its apex portion 58 overlying the adjacent apex portion 60 of the segment 52. The contiguous edges of the segment 50 and the segments 48 and 54 would then be secured together as suggested by the stippling 62. Preferably but not necessarily, the edges of the apex portion 58 would be secured to the apex portion 60, as suggested bythe stippling 64 in FIGURE 8.

Ilt will of course be understood that the precise order of folding over and securing the four flap segments together may be varied, the procedure above described being exemplary only. In other Words, all of the four folding operations may be made first, followed by the securement thereof. Again as should be evident, the flap segment 50 may be folded over first, and then the segment 52, in which case the apex portion 60 would overlie the apex portion 58. Furthermore, 4the ap segments 50 and 52 could be folded over first, yfollowed by the folding over of the segments 48 and 54, and so on.

The size of a sheet 20, as hereinbefore noted, is determined pnimarily by the size and contour of the mailing envelope for the greeting card. The illustrated sheet 20 is substantially square in configuration, but obviously said sheet would not be adapted for example, to enclose a greeting card and its envelope having length dimenzsions twice that of their width dimensions. In other words, the present invention contemplates any contour variations in sheets 20 that are requisite in order to package a certain sized greeting card, a mailing envelope therefor, and -an information card, in neat and attractive fashion.

Thus for packaging an oblong folded greeting card that is approximately twice as long as `it lis wide, a 'hexagonal sheet of transparent plastic film would be employed. An exemplary sheet of such contour appears in FIGURE 10, and is designated in its entirety by the numeral 120. successively superimposed on the sheet 120, are a greeting card generally designated 117 (shown in broken wherefore it is not deemed necessary to describe these items in detail.

With respect to the transparent sheet 120, numerals 168, 140, 142, and 144 designate imaginary fold lines, that so to speak define an oblong rectangular central body portion 146 of said sheet, together wtih a pair of triangular flap segments 148 and 154, and a pair of trapezoidal flap segments 150 and 152 integral therewith.

As should be manifest from an inspection of FIGURE 11, the ultimate package 1:16 would be produced in consequence of procedure heretofore explained in detail with respect to the package 16. Sealing areas corresponding to the sealing areas 56 and 62 appearing in FIGURE 8, are designated respectively by the numerals 156 and 162. Inasmueh however, as the trapezoidal flaps 150 and 152 do not have apex segments, the sealing corresponding to that suggested in FIGURE 8 by the numeral 64, would be applied -along the marginal edges 158 and 160 of said flaps, as indicated by the numeral 164.

A particularly simple embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 12 through 15. In this embodiment, a single fold sheet of transparent plastic material designated 220 would be employed. As best seen in FIGURE 13, the sheet 220 includes a top leaf 221 and a bottom leaf 223, said leaves being defined by an arcuate fold segment designated 225.

In producing the ultimate package 216 appearing in FIGURE 15, the contiguous upper marginal edges 0f the leaves 221 and 223 would be heat-sealed as indicated 'by the dash line 230 in FIGURE 14. Thereupon, a `greeting card 17 such as that shown in FIGURE l, an envelope 18 similar to that appearing in FIGURE 4, and the information card 19 appearing in FIGURE 5 would be inserted in properly superimposed status into the thus result- `ant pocket, as should be understood. Finally, the contiguous lower marginal edges, and the marginal edges of the transparent plastic sheet 220 opposite the fold 225 thereof would lbe sealed, as indicated respectively by the dash lines 232 and 234 in FIGURE 15 With respect to the exemplarily illustrated sheets 20, and 220, said sheets may Ibe fabricated of any suitable plastic material that is transparent. Thus for eX- ample, acetate and polyethylene film have been found ideal. With respect to the securing means suggested by the stipplings 56, 62 and 64 in FIGURE 8, the stipplings 156, 162 and 164 in FIGURE l1, and the dash lines 230, 232 and 234 in FIGURE l5, these may he attained iby heat sealing a solvent or by the use of -any appropriate adhesive material, either manual-ly or mechanically applied.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that Ithe present invention provides a novel land ingenious arnangement in connection 'with the display and sale of greeting cards. Prospective customers may handle and examine the packaged card, the front panel thereof Iand an exact reproduction of the message or verse on the `inside panel thereof being visibly presented, and the price of the card being clearly indicated. Following purchase of a package 16, 116 or 216, the respective enclosing film sheets 20, v12.() and 220 would be severed and discarded. Thereupon, the information cards 19 and 119 would also 4be discarded, and the purchaser would be in possession of an 4unsoiled greeting card, and an unsoiled envelope for mailin-g same.

In view `of the Iforegoing description :augmented by an inspection of the dnawings, it is believed that a compre hensive disclosure of the present invention and its objectives has -been presented. Although reference 'has been mede throughout the instant speci-cation to greeting cards, it will be understood that the present invention contemrlftes the packaging of any folded cards that convey a message. Thus for example, wedding invitations, sympathy cards that would be mailed to relatives of a deceased person, so called get well cards that would be mailed to a person confined to a hospital bed and so on, may be packaged in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Wherefore it is to `be understood that the claims hereunto appended are not limited exclusively to greeting cards, but contemplate a packaging arrangement for all types of folded cards that have a message of any kind appearing on the inside panel or panels thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A package comprising in combination: a folded greeting card of substantially square conguration including `a face panel and an inside panel whereon a certain message appears; an unsealed envelope dimensioned slightly larger than the greeting card for mailing the same; a disposable information card whereon au exact reproduction of said certain message appears and whereon the selling price of said greeting card and mailing envelope also appears, said disposable card being dimensioned correspondingly to said greeting card; anda rectangular sheet of transparent plastic material encasing both said cards and the envelope; the size of said sheet being predicated on the dimensions of said envelope to include a reoangular central main body portion and four triangular iap segments integral therewith, each of `said ap segments eX- tending outwardly from one of `four imaginary fold lines that define the aforesaid central main body portion of the sheet, the face panel of the greeting card being disposed contiguously to `said central main body portion of the sheet, the envelope being superimposed on the greeting card, the disposable information card being superimposed on the envelope with the information side thereof uppermost, the four ap segments aforesaid of the transparent plastic sheet being folded over so as to voverlie said information card, the resultant contiguously disposed edge portions of the ap segments -being secured to one another lby sealing means.

2. A package comprising in combination: a folded greeting 4card of oblong rectangular conguration including a face panel and an inside panel whereon a certain message appears; :an unsealed envelope dimensioned slightly larger than the greeting card for mailing the same; a disposable information card wher-con an exact reproduction of said certain message appears and whereon the selling price of sa-.id greeting card and mailing envelope also appears, said disposable card being dimensioned correspondingly to said greeting card; `and a hexagonal sheet of transparent plastic material encasing both said cards and the envelope; the size of said sheet being predicated on the dimensions of said envelope to include an oblong rectangular centnal main body portion having a pair of opposed triangular ap segments and ,a pair of `opposed trapezoidal flap segments integral therewith, each of said iiap segments extending outwardly from one of four imaginary fold lines that `define the aforesaid central main Ibody portion of the sheet, the face panel of the greeting card being disposed contiguously to said central main body portion of the sheet, the envelope being superimposed on the greeting card, the disposable information card lbeing superimposed on the envelope with the information side thereof uppermost, the four ap segments aforesaid of the transparent plastic sheet being folded over so as to overlie Isai-d information card, the resultant contiguous/1y disposed edge portions of the ap segments being secured to one `another by sealing means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,622 Spaulding Dec. 4, 11928 1,760,106 Beach May 27, 1930 2,217,949 Heywood Oct. 15, 1940 2,497,064 Baynes Feb. 14, 1950 

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A FOLDED GREETING CARD OF SUBSTANTIALLY SQUARE CONFIGURATION INCLUDING A FACE PANEL AND AN INSIDE PANEL WHEREON A CERTAIN MESSAGE APPEARS; AN UNSEALED ENVELOPE DIMENSIONED SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE GREETING CARD FOR MAILING THE SAME; A DISPOSABLE INFORMATION CARD WHEREON AN EXACT REPRODUCTION OF SAID CERTAIN MESSAGE APPEARS AND WHEREON THE SELLING PRICE OF SAID GREETING CARD AND MAILING ENVELOPE ALSO APPEARS, SAID DISPOSABLE CARD BEING DIMENSIONED CORRESPONDINGLY TO SAID GREETING CARD; AND A RECTANGULAR SHEET OF TRANSPARENT PLASTIC MATERIAL ENCASING BOTH SAID CARDS AND THE ENVELOPE; THE SIZE OF SAID SHEET BEING PREDICATED ON THE DIMENSIONS OF SAID ENVELOPE TO INCLUDE A RECTANGULAR CENTRAL MAIN BODY PORTION AND FOUR TRIANGULAR FLAP SEGMENTS INTEGRAL THEREWITH, EACH OF SAID FLAP SEGMENTS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM ONE OF FOUR IMAGINARY FOLD LINES THAT DEFINE THE AFORESAID CENTRAL MAIN BODY PORTION OF THE SHEET, THE FACE PANEL OF THE GREETING CARD BEING DISPOSED CONTIGUOUSLY TO SAID CENTRAL MAIN BODY PORTION OF THE SHEET, THE ENVELOPE BEING SUPERIMPOSED ON THE GREETING CARD, THE DISPOSABLE INFORMATION CARD BEING SUPERIMPOSED ON THE ENVELOPE WITH THE INFORMATION SIDE THEREOF UPPERMOST, THE FOUR FLAP SEGMENTS AFORESAID OF THE TRANSPARENT PLASTIC SHEET BEING FOLDED OVER SO AS TO OVERLIE SAID INFORMATION CARD, THE RESULTANT CONTIGUOUSLY DISPOSED EDGE PORTIONS OF THE FLAP SEGMENTS BEING SECURED TO ONE ANOTHER BY SEALING MEANS. 